Method and apparatus for revivifying dry-cell batteries.



HORACE B. RAMEY,`0F ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

` METHOD AND PLPARATUS FOR BEVIVIFYING DRY-CELL BTTERIES.

No; elenca.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application mea mme so, 190s. serial No. 441,030.

Patented Feb. z5, 1909.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, Hormon B. Rincer, s citizen of the United States,residing at Alexandrie, in the county of Alexcndricaind State ofVirginia, have invented certain new,

enduseiul Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for Rcviviiying`Dry-Cell Battenes, of which the following is a specification. A

My invention relates to a method of and means for revivifying drybattery cells when the saine have become worn out or used up so thatthey no longer give c sufficient voltage to be of any practical use.

The object 'of my invention is to provide an. inexpensive ineens wherebythe user of dry cells een reviyily the seme with very little trouble, sothat the life of the cells can Y be more than doubled, whereby averymaterial saving is accomplished..

It is well known that batteries of the class in question commence todeteriorate from the time they are merle end that therefore it isalu/'aye e matter of uncertainty, in purchasing e cell whether it willcontinue to be efficient forl several inonthscr only for a few da Ts. Atthe present time, :is soon as the voltage of such :i cell falls 'below acertain amount, the cell must be discarded-end c cell and, the latterbeing perforated, ceusesl electrical action to be again produced.

I willjrst describe the casing or cup, which constitutes a ert of myinvention sind by means of Whicli the reviyiiicetion of the cclls isperformed, reference 'being hed to the accompanying drawing' in whiche-Figure l, is a perspective view, showing Lin vertical sectionone ofthese cups with a' cell lto be-revivified in place therein. Fig. 2, is cart vertical section of one of the cups; and gig. 3, is a side View ofthe cup collapsed.

'The cup consists essentially of an external waterproof:l casing 1, andim internal absorbent linin,r 2 which is impregnated with chemicals,suitable to form an electrolyte. AThe outer casing 1, is preferably medeof paper or similar cheap materiell and the mino` 2 is preferably of pcer'bu-t of the kind which is bibulous or u-bsoiifient in its nature.

The referred method of making the cup is as follows: A sheet of theabsorbent paper of the proper size, to form a cylinder of the desireddiameter, is impregnated with a,- solution containing ten 'parts ofmuriate of am momie, four parts ol' bichromate of potasli and ten. partsof chlorid of sodium. VlThis sheet is then dried, preferably by passingit between rollers which serve to incorporate the said chemicals firmly'thereini and to extrude the excess of water therefrom, and is wrappedaround a, wooden cylinder of eppropriste diameter. It is then coatedexternally with e waterproofing peste., indicated. at 3. Around this 1sthen wrapped e coating l of Manila paper or the like, which may bedoubled, the end of the cup bein r formed by placing a disk or disks Il,of simi er pc er at the end of the cylinder in 'the inside an foldingthcreover the sheet of Manila paper l; a disk or disks 5 is then placedin the bottom of the cup, the whole being secured by the paste or glueabove mentioned. When dry the cup may be dip )ed in melted paraffin,indiceted at 6, in the drawing, so as toI form a. water tight externalcoating thereon.

The method of using the cup to, revivify c worn-out dry cell is asfollows: The usual external casing of peper is removed from the cell andthe external zinc surface of the same is then cleaned, as by placing itin la week lye solution and letting it stand therein for several hours.After wiping off the surface the zinc is perforated in :i number ofplaces with a small shar) instrument and the coal ter in the top of t ecell is removed by tapM ping around the edge with a hammer. The cell isthen placed wlthin the cup and the top is filled with clean witter,preferably rain water. u stel be produced between the outer surface of te zinc andthe electrolyte contained in the porous lining;- of the cupand the terminals ofthe cell Will show practicall r the same voltage asthey did when the cell was new. By repleni'shing the water from time totirfie, say once n'month for example, the life 'of the ced can beprolonged for a considerable Chemical action will then immcdi IOC longerperiod than the average life of a cell bought upon, the market.

It is to be noted that While the battery cell is practically used up andlifeless, it can however, by m invention be made active a ain auditslite greatly prolonged. Furt erf more, by cleaning the external zincsurface of the cell, and suppl ing a fresh electrolyte thereto the sameconditions' are set up on the outside that existed when the battery Wasnewly made.

In addition to the advantages obtained by my invention, which l havevmentioned a o ve, the fact that the cup is collapsible and whichconsists in perforatlng the outer zinc casing of thesame andsurroundingit with an imperviously coated labsorbent material impregnated With anelectrolyte.

2.A The' process of revivifying a dry battery Which consists in removingthe Wrapper therefrom, cleaning the Zinc surface-and perforating thesame, and surrounding it With an absorbent material containing a dryelectrolytic substance.

3. The process of reviv'fying a dry .btir-QTY.'

which consists vin removing the Wrapper therefrom, cleaning the zincsurfaceand perforating it in a plurality of places, and surrounding itwith an vabsorbent material containing an electrolyte.'

Ll.. The process of revivifyingadrybattery, which consists in cleaningand perorating f the zlnc casing of the same, surrounding it v With animperviously coated absorbent masupplying Water in the top of theceL.n

5. The process of revivifying a dry battery,

which consists in removing 'the Wrapper top of the cell.

6. For use with a dry cell, an electrolyte, and a collapsible receptacleof imperviously coated absorbent material impregnated with saidelectrolyte. I '-1, 7. In a dry cell, an electrolyte, a collapsible cupfor the purpose described,`consist ing 'of a Water-prooled casing and alining oi absorbent material impregnated with said electrolyte.

v8. A cupl for the purpose described, and an electrolyte, said cupconsistin of a Waterproof casing and a linin secure thereto by an imervious glue, sai `lining consisting of absor ent paper impregnated withsaidelectrolyte. i

9. In combination, an electrolyte a receptacle for the purpose describedconsisting of an impervious casing and lining of-abs'orbent materialimpregnated with said electrolyte, 'and a cell inclosed in said recetacle perw 'orated for su plyin Water to t eelectrolyte whereby 131elife ess cell and electrolyte K are made active for the purpose andsubstan ,tially as described.

vln testimony whereof l allixmy signature, in presence of two Witnesses.N

. HORACE B. RAMEY.

Nitnessesa M. E. SHAFrER, Julius. lnLroN.

terial impregnated With an electrol te and an electrolyte, and pouringWater into the

